Casca selected by Celtic Bank to power its SBA lending program. Apr 29, 2026, 11:27 ET One of the nation's top SBA lenders partners with Casca's AI-native platform to accelerate commercial loan origination and scale its SBA 7a portfolio SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Celtic Bank, a top-ten U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) lender since 2013, today announced a partnership with Casca, the first AI-native loan origination platform for commercial lending. Celtic Bank selected Casca to power its SBA lending program, aiming to grow loan volume, increase conversion rates, and deliver a best-in-class digital borrower experience while significantly reducing manual origination effort. Celtic Bank chose Casca for the platform's rapid deployment capabilities and ability to scale alongside the bank's ambitious growth plans. Where traditional loan origination system implementations can take a year or more, Casca's modern, cloud-first architecture allowed Celtic Bank to move from contract to configuration in a matter of weeks. The speed of implementation has been a standout factor in the partnership, enabling Celtic's lending teams to get up and running without the prolonged timelines that have historically slowed technology adoption in banking. For Celtic Bank, the partnership represents a strategic investment in growing its SBA portfolio. As an SBA Preferred Lender with the authority to approve loans without additional SBA review, Celtic is positioned to move quickly on small-dollar lending opportunities. Casca's platform gives lenders the tools to dramatically compress origination timelines, converting more applicants into funded loans through a streamlined digital experience that guides borrowers through the process the way TurboTax guides taxpayers through a tax return. Complex SBA forms like the 1919, 413, and 159 are simplified into an intuitive, step-by-step flow, reducing manual errors and eliminating the back-and-forth that slows down traditional origination. On the back end, Casca automates financial spreading and analysis, turning tasks that once took hours into minutes and freeing Celtic's team to focus on what they do best: getting capital into the hands of small business owners who need it. "We've been looking for a technology partner that can keep up with our ambitions for small-dollar SBA lending," said Todd Boren, President and COO of Celtic Bank. "Casca's speed to deploy and ability to scale with us has been unlike anything we've experienced with traditional lending technology. We're excited to grow our SBA portfolio with a platform that was built for the way we want to lend." Casca's platform is purpose-built for commercial and SBA lending, compressing origination timelines from months to days. The platform integrates seamlessly with the third-party systems banks already rely on, including credit bureaus, document verification providers, and core banking systems, creating a unified origination experience for both lenders and borrowers. For Celtic Bank's SBA 7(a) Express program, this means small business owners can apply, receive a decision, and move toward funding through a streamlined digital experience. "Behind every SBA loan is a family betting on themselves, a Main Street storefront opening its doors, a community getting stronger. That's why we built Casca," said Lukas Haffer, CEO and Co-Founder of Casca. "When lenders like Celtic Bank can move faster and reach more borrowers, the impact ripples out to the communities those businesses serve. Celtic shares our belief that access to capital shouldn't be held back by outdated technology, and we're proud to partner with them to get more funding to the small business owners who need it most." Celtic Bank joins a growing roster of leading financial institutions leveraging Casca's AI-native platform, including Live Oak Bank, the nation's #1 SBA 7(a) lender by dollar volume, and Huntington National Bank, the #1 SBA 7(a) lender by number of loans. About Celtic Bank Celtic Bank is a privately owned industrial bank headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and one of the nation's most active SBA lenders. Founded in 2001, Celtic Bank offers a comprehensive suite of tailored financing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses that empower both business owners and financial innovators. As an SBA Preferred Lender ranked among the top ten largest SBA lenders in the U.S. since 2013, Celtic Bank has the authority to approve SBA loans directly, delivering faster turnaround times and more flexible terms to borrowers. For more information, visit celticbank.com. About Casca Casca is the first AI-native loan origination platform for commercial lending. Casca compresses origination timelines from months to days by automating data entry, document collection, and compliance workflows. Casca's platform is trusted by the nation's leading SBA lenders, including Live Oak Bank, Huntington National Bank, and Celtic Bank. Founded in 2022 and backed by $33 million in funding from Canapi Ventures, Live Oak Ventures, and Huntington, Casca is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit cascading.ai. SOURCE Casca

Casca partners with William Mills Agency for public relations services. William Mills Agency, the nation's leading financial services and fintech public relations firm, has been selected by Casca, the first AI-native loan origination platform, to strengthen its brand awareness as the company advances business lending through responsible AI. Casca is redefining small business lending for community institutions with the first AI-native loan origination system. With the majority of small and medium-sized businesses struggling to secure affordable capital, the challenge lies not in creditworthiness but in limited options - outdated systems at traditional banks or costly quick-fix funding from alternative lenders. Casca's platform bridges this gap by enabling community institutions to serve this segment at fintech-level speed, without compromising on their competitive, responsible rates. "Casca is building toward a future where access to capital is fair, fast and intelligent - with responsible, ethical AI at its core," said Lukas Haffer, CEO and co-founder of Casca. "William Mills Agency's deep expertise of the financial technology landscape makes them the ideal partner as we expand our reach, empowering community institutions with the tools needed to transform small business lending and make it more inclusive." "We are proud to partner with Casca as they not only modernize a broken process, but also help community institutions stay competitive and expand their impact," said William Mills, CEO at William Mills Agency. "By leveraging responsible AI, Casca's platform streamlines loan origination with unprecedented efficiency while enabling community lenders to provide more inclusive access to capital. Our role is to amplify this mission, building awareness and trust so more small businesses can benefit from faster, fairer lending." About Casca Casca accelerates the loan application and origination process using responsible AI. It is the loan origination platform used by the nation's leading SBA lenders and FDIC-Insured banks. Founded in 2023 by banking IT experts and AI researchers from Stanford University, Casca is backed by Y Combinator, Canapi Ventures, Peterson Ventures, Clocktower Ventures, The Fintech Fund, and the Sarah Smith Fund. For more information, visit www.cascading.ai and follow Finopotamus LLC on LinkedIn. About William Mills Agency William Mills Agency is North America's leading financial technology public relations and marketing firm. The agency has established its reputation through successful execution of media relations, strategic communications, content development, and crisis communications programs. The company serves clients ranging in size from early-stage startups to large, publicly traded firms. For more information, please visit williammills.com/financial-public-relations.

Casca named Banking and Financial Services Winner in the 2026 BIG Innovation Awards. News provided by. Jan 15, 2026, 15:04 ET CEO and co-founder, Lukas Haffer, was recognized in the Banking and Financial Services category for Innovative Individuals SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Casca, the first AI-native loan origination platform, is proud to announce that it has been named a Banking and Financial Services Winner in the 2026 BIG Innovation Awards, a global recognition program honoring companies, products, and leaders who are transforming industries through applied innovation, intelligent platforms, and measurable real-world impact. "The 2026 BIG Innovation Awards winners show that true innovation is no longer about chasing the latest buzzwords," said Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer at the Business Intelligence Group. "It's about building intelligent platforms, automating workflows with purpose, and making trust, privacy, and resilience the foundation of every breakthrough. These organizations and leaders are not just keeping pace with change, they are shaping the future of global business." Casca was recognized for its outstanding contributions to innovation in banking and financial services. Rather than incrementally improving legacy systems, the company rebuilt one of banking's slowest and most complex processes from the ground up. Its AI-native loan origination platform replaces outdated lending infrastructure with responsible, automated workflows designed to meet bank-grade underwriting and compliance standards. As a result, community banks and credit unions using Casca are funding small business loans up to 30x faster than industry averages, with end-to-end processing times as short as one to four days. "We are honored to receive this recognition, "Casca co-Founder and CEO Lukas Haffer said "This award reflects a belief we've held from day one: that responsible, well-designed technology can fundamentally improve access to capital for small businesses while strengthening the role of banks as trusted financial partners. Innovation, to us, means building systems that work in the real world and make a meaningful difference for the people who rely on them." In addition, Lukas Haffer was recognized in the Banking and Financial Services category for Innovative Individuals. Under his leadership, Casca has grown from an early-stage concept into one of the most impactful AI innovations in small business lending. In 2025, Casca raised a $29 million Series A. Casca's flagship customers - Live Oak Bank, the nation's leading U.S. Small Business Administration SBA 7(a) lender by dollar volume, Huntington National Bank, the nation's largest originator, by volume of SBA 7(a) loans, and Bankwell Bank, Casca's first customer - all invested. Casca joins 159 winners recognized for their contributions to innovation across health, financial services, logistics, manufacturing, and enterprise technology. The 2026 BIG Innovation Awards winners reveal a clear trend: innovation is no longer about just having AI, it's about how you use it. Winners are building platforms, automating workflows, and focusing on trust, privacy, and security as core to their mission. For more information about the BIG Innovation Awards and to view the full list of winners, visit www.bintelligence.com/posts/2026-big-innovation-awards-159-trailblazers-prove-where-innovation-is-really-happening. About Casca Casca accelerates the loan application and origination process using responsible AI. It is the loan origination platform used by the nation's leading SBA lenders and FDIC-Insured banks. Founded in 2023 by banking IT experts and AI researchers from Stanford University, Casca is backed by Y Combinator, Canapi Ventures, Peterson Ventures, Clocktower Ventures, The Fintech Fund, and the Sarah Smith Fund. For more information, visit www.cascading.ai and follow us on LinkedIn. About Business Intelligence Group The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in business. Unlike many recognition programs, these awards are evaluated by business leaders and practitioners who reward programs, products, and people that deliver real, quantifiable excellence rather than marketing narratives.